A glimpse of her past - II
He stood there frozen taking in his surrounding, the walls that depicted the tales of their love. He could clearly see their bond and happiness. His mind went blank. The only thing that his mind screamed was to run away immediately leaving behind the sufferings that ached his heart and made him vulnerable to the extent that he felt nothing, but it seemed as if his heart had some other plans. He stood there like a statue. He wanted to leave, but his heart didn't allow him to move a single step away from her.
She was sleeping but there was no peace. There was a frown on her face. She was frequently flinching and trembling in her slumber on the sounds of the lightning and thunder. He had no clue about what he would do next. But he was certain about one thing that this time no matter what, he would not run away from her, his feelings or his love.
Amidst his own suffering, he remembered her tearful face that broke his heart, how broken she looked and the words she uttered in fear were still ringing in his ears. Although he could not make out the meaning behind them, but deep down in his heart, he knew that she might have went through something terrible to react in such a way. He shuddered at the thought of her being alone in that state and what if something like that would happen again after he leave her. The thought itself halted him to get away from her.
He looked at her and thought, 'I have run enough Anna but not this time. It's difficult to imagine and see you with someone else but it's impossible for me to leave you like this when you need me the most. I am not going anywhere. Not this time.' He moved his gaze around the room and sighed. 'May be I should see all of it to realize that you will never be mine because you already have someone in your heart. I don't know for how long I would be able to hold myself but I am here for for you. This time I am not going to run away from you Anna. Not anymore.' He muttered.
After a while he asked Samantha, "Is it their room?"
She was bemused by his question. She could see his soft side for Anna but had no idea if he knew about Ashton. She could see how Anna trusted him enough to get close to him. Watching her in the same state since the last three years, somewhere she lost her hope of seeing her with someone again who could make her happy as Ashton did, but when she saw her in Regan's arm, she became optimistic for her better fate. She didn't want to offend him by saying anything about Ashton's place in Anna's life. So she decided to answer him cautiously.
"Yes it is. In fact, this whole mansion was built by him for Anna. He wanted to live with her over here after their wedding."
"Wedding?" He mumbled to himself. His mind was unable to register her words after hearing about the wedding to understand that it was all in the past. "You should call him. She needs him. It would be better that he come here at the earliest so that I could leave."
Samantha's eyes widened in realization that he didn't know anything about Ashton's demise. She was about to speak, when they heard Anna's muffled voice. She instantly turned towards her and saw Regan sitting beside her again, calming her down.
It seemed as if she was having a nightmare. She was crying and mumbling some incoherent words. Regan didn't know how to pacify her. He moved his hand through her hair which soothed her after a while and she again went into a slumber.
"Don't worry sir. I don't think she would wake up again before morning."
"Regan Knight."
"Ummm...Mr. Knight if you want then you can leave. I assure you I'll take care of her."
"I won't be able to leave her in this condition. I would just stay here until she wakes up."
"But Mr. Knight..."
He glared her which stopped her from speaking further.
She could see how stubborn he was and won't listen anything. She sighed and asked, "Would you like to have something?"
"No" He replied curtly.
She nodded and left. He sat on her bedside for long and didn't realize when his eyes became heavy and sleep engulfed him. He dozed off resting his head on the bed stand beside him.
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It was still early in the morning when Anna woke up. She remembered the events of the evening and woke up abruptly. She was shocked on seeing Regan sitting beside her. She recalled how she got scared due to the darkness and he rescued her. She was amused on her own self as she didn't know how she slept so carelessly after everything that happened and here he was sitting there for her.
'Did he stay like this for the whole night... with me?' She lowered her head in guilt.
The sudden movements awakened him. His body was tensed after sitting in the same position since night. But ignoring his pain, he turned towards her and held her hands. Relief washed over his entire being seeing her awake in a better condition.
"Oh My God Anna! How are you now? Are you feeling better? You scared me Anna."
She moved her gaze towards him and saw his disheavled look. His hair were messy and his coat was lying on the couch. His eyes were red due to lack of sleep and it was all because of her.
Instead of answering him, she asked, "Regan did you stay here last night? Besides me? Why? It was not..."
"Because I was incapable of leaving you in that state." He cut her off and whispered but it was enough for her to listen.
She shook her head. "You should have gone home Regan. I mean just look at you. You look so tired.... because of me. I am sorry."
He frowned on hearing her. He was amused on her reaction and her worries for him. He could not understand how was she able to think about him when she herself was not well in the first place.
He smiled and said, "It was raining cats and dogs yesterday and the weather was not helping either. So I guess, I had no choice but to crash at your place without your permission. I should be sorry for that. And I didn't know when I slept besides you. Sorry for that too."
"Huh? No it wasn't....."
"My my! These kids nowadays. I think you both should leave your sorrys aside." Samantha entered the room with a tray of food in her hand and said playfully.
"Nanna?"
Samantha put the food tray aside and embraced her. "I am so sorry Anna. I shouldn't have left you. You wouldn't have suffered if I have been more careful."
"It's okay. It wasn't your fault Nanna."
"Okay fine. No more sorry now. I have brought some food for both of you. I know you have not eaten anything since yesterday. So you both eat peacefully and then come downstairs." She said and left.
Regan twitched his palms after hearing her. He turned to her and asked, "Did you again skipped your meal Anna?"
Instead of replying him, she looked down and he understood her answer. He didn't know what to do with her.
"Why are you always so careless about yourself? You know its not good to frequently skip your meals."
"I... I was just too busy to remember about it and then..."
He sighed, took the food tray and said, "Fine...Now finish this all."
She scrunched her nose in disgust. She looked at him to say something back but swallowed her words after seeing him giving her a dont-dare-to-deny look.
"Okay. But it's too much for me. Can you share it." She said meekly.
He shook his head helplessly and smiled. "Of course I will. I am famished." He said playfully and both finished the breakfast.
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When Anna came downstairs after completing her morning chores, Regan was already waiting for her. She went to him and said, "Thanks for helping me out. I don't know what would I have done if you were not there."
"You know there's always a way to return a favour?"
"What do you mean?"
He smiled and said, I mean you can too do something for me. Would you?"
"Anything. What do you want me to do?"
"Spend a day with me Anna."